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Updated: May 29, 2026
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Selective changes in white matter integrity in MCI and older adults with cognitive complaints
Yang Wang1, John D West, Laura A Flashman
1Center for Neuroimaging, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Background:
White matter changes measured using diffusion tensor imaging have been reported in Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment, but changes in earlier pre-mild cognitive impairment stages have not been fully investigated.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional analysis, older adults with mild cognitive impairment (n=28), older adults with cognitive complaints but without psychometric impairment (n=29) and healthy controls (n=35) were compared. Measures included whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging, T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropsychological assessment. Diffusion images were analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics. Voxel-wise fractional anisotropy and mean, axial, and radial diffusivities were assessed and compared between groups. Significant tract clusters were extracted in order to perform further region of interest comparisons. Brain volume was estimated using FreeSurfer based on T1 structural images.
Results:
The mild cognitive impairment group showed lower fractional anisotropy and higher radial diffusivity than controls in bilateral parahippocampal white matter. When comparing extracted diffusivity measurements from bilateral parahippocampal white matter clusters, the cognitive complaint group had values that were intermediate to the mild cognitive impairment and healthy control groups. Group difference in diffusion tensor imaging measures remained significant after controlling for hippocampal atrophy. Across the entire sample, diffusion tensor imaging indices in parahippocampal white matter were correlated with memory function.
Conclusions:
These findings are consistent with previous results showing changes in parahippocampal white matter in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment compared to controls. The intermediate pattern found in the cognitive complaint group suggests the potential of diffusion tensor imaging to contribute to earlier detection of neurodegenerative changes during prodromal stages. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Imaging Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative disease.
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging reveals early white matter changes in the parahippocampal region, even before mild cognitive impairment develops. These findings suggest potential for earlier Alzheimer's disease detection using diffusion tensor imaging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
Background:
- White matter alterations are known in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- Earlier pre-clinical or prodromal stages of neurodegeneration remain understudied using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter changes using DTI in individuals with subjective cognitive complaints but no objective impairment.
- To compare DTI metrics in individuals with cognitive complaints, MCI, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing healthy controls (n=35), cognitive complaint group (n=29), and MCI group (n=28).
- Whole-brain DTI and structural MRI were acquired.
- Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) analyzed fractional anisotropy and diffusivities in white matter tracts.
Main Results:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group showed reduced fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity in bilateral parahippocampal white matter compared to controls.
- The cognitive complaint group exhibited intermediate DTI values between MCI and control groups.
- Parahippocampal white matter DTI indices correlated with memory performance, independent of hippocampal atrophy.
Conclusions:
- DTI detects parahippocampal white matter abnormalities in MCI and suggests subtle changes in earlier cognitive complaint stages.
- These findings support DTI's potential for early detection of neurodegenerative processes in prodromal AD.
- This research contributes to understanding brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases through advanced imaging techniques.
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